Display mannequins



Jan. '2, 1968 A. M ZIEGLER ETAL 3,361,310

DISPLAY MANNEQUINS Filed Aug. 19, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 V INVENTORSALVIN M. ZIEGLER ANTHONY CARO AT TORNE Y.

1968 A. M. ZIEGLER ETAL' 3,361,310

. DI SPLAY MANNEQU INS Filed Aug. 19, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 6.

INVENTORS ALVIN M. ZIEGLER ANTHONY CARO ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,361,310 DISPLAY MANNEQUINS Alvin M. Ziegler, 310Grant Ave., Woodmere, NY. 11598, and Anthony Caro, 160-51 25th Drive,Flushing, NY. 11377 Filed Aug. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 302,834 5 Claims. (Cl.223-72) This invention relates to the art of display mannequins, moreparticularly to an improved mannequin formed of stock cylindrical tubingmade up of sheet material such as pasteboard, chipboard, or the likeinexpensive meterial, whereby the cost of the mannequin may be keptrelatively low.

A variety of display mannequins have been evolved for use in presentingmerchandise to view by the purchasing public. Where the mannequin isemployed to display items of clothing or the like apparel, it isgenerally desirable that the mannequin be subjected to positioning in asnatural a position as possible so as to display the items of clothing asthey would appear in normal use. Where cost is no consideration, ofcourse the mannequin may be made to appear almost lifelike. However,cost considerations become rather critical in most merchandising, and avariety of attempts are made to minimize merchandise displayexpenditures. Where mannequins are utilized this reduction in cost maybe effected in a variety of ways. Thus by eliminating articulated jointson the mannequin the cost of mannequin production may be reduced. Withthe elimination of articulated joints, however, a loss of naturalnessresults, and difiiculties are encountered in positioning the clothing onthe mannequin, and in positioning the mannequin in the display.Additioally costs may be reduced by minimizing the contouring of themannequin components. Such economy obviously reduces the desirability ofthe resulting mannequin product.

It is with the problems and desiderata in mind that the present means,including both method and apparatus, have been evolved, means providingan improved display mannequin having desired contours of the bodyrepresented, and subject to formation with articulated joins, readilydressable, positionable in a variety of natural poses, and relativelyinexpensive.

It is accordingly among the objects of this invention to provide animproved mannequin subject to being formed of inexpensive stockmaterials to obtain desired contours at relatively low cost.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method offorming a display mannequin of hollow cylindrical stock.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved displaymannequin having desired joint articulation.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved mannequinsubject to being dressed with minimal effort.

Another important object of the invention is to provide improved meansforming a display mannequin for trousers or the like items of clothingcovering the lower torso and le s.

These and other objects of the invention which will become hereafterapparent are achieved by forming a display mannequin of elongate lengthsof hollow cylindrical tubing formed of sheet materials such aspasteboard, chipboard, or the like inexpensive sheet material. A lengthof tubing is cut to a length proportional to a length of the desiredpart of the anatomy to be represented by the mannequin. Thus where theupper legs are to be formed, lengths of tubing proportional or equal tothe length of the upper leg are cut. Thereafter this length ofcylindrical tubing has an end thereof elliptically contoured, while anopposite end thereof is also elliptically ice contoured. The upper endof the leg which is normally thicker than the lower end, is providedwith an elliptical contour having a minor axis larger than the minoraxis of the elliptical end having a thinner contour with the result thatthe leg portion is provided with a naturallooking taper. The lower legportions are similarly formed, and thereafter the lower leg portions andupper leg portions are joined by a suitable pivot connection wherearticulation is desired between the upper and lower leg members. Theupper leg members are coupled via a bracket to a waist piece formed ofsheet material, preferably fabricated chipboard or the like materialcapable of accommodating a pin or tack inserted by manual pressure. Atthe lower end of the lower leg member, a removable foot piece isprovided which has a front portion arcuately contoured to accommodate ashoe, and a cuff portion adapted for insertion in the lower end of thelower leg member. The cuif portion, and the shoe portion are formedpreferably of the same stock tubing as previously described inconnection with the limb portions.

An important feature of the invention resides in the fact that thecomponents of the mannequin are fabricated of conventional sheet stockpieces such as cylindrical tubing, and sheet boards, whereby fabricationexpenses may be kept at a minimum, and desired lightness in weight toimplement handling of the mannequin is obtained.

Another feature of the invention resides in the formation of articulatedjoints by the utilization of hinge brackets formed of sheet stock.

It is also a feature of the invention to obtain tapering of anoriginally cylindrical element by the formation of ellipses ofdifferently sized major (or minor) axes at the ends of the cylinder.

The specific details of several embodiments of the invention, and theirmode of functioning will be made most manifest, and particularly pointedout in clear, concise and exact terms in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display mannequin of the lower humantorso designed for displaying trousers or the like garments, shownformed with articulated joints and with parts broken away to reveal someof the structural details; and

FIG. 2 is an exploded detail view showing a preferred form of the hingeand spacer assembly employing at the upper end of the upper leg forwaist articulation; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded detail view of the pivot bracket employed forproviding knee-like articulation between the upper and lower legmembers; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a mannequin formed with a lower torso orhip portion contoured in accordance with the teachings of thisinvention; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the lower torso or hip components employedin the FIG. 4 embodiment; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a mannequin for trousers or the likegarments formed without articulation in accordance with the teachings ofthis invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, like numerals in thevarious figures will be employed to designate like parts.

As shown in the embodiments of the invention illus trated in FIGS. 1-3,the mannequin 10 is designed for use in displaying trousers, slacks, orthe like garments covering the lower limbs of the human anatomy.Mannequin 10 is formed with a waist piece 11 fabricated of sheetmaterial such as pasteboard, chipboard, or the like inexpen- An upperleg piece 15 is formed of an elongate length of hollow cylindricaltubing fabricated of pasteboard, chipboard, or the like sheet material.In ord er to obtain the desired leg contour, the upper end of the upperleg piece 15 is elliptically contoured. Contouring is effected byutilization of a spacer or shaper plate 16 formed of in expensive sheetmaterial which may be shaped to the desired elliptical shape intendedfor the upper portion of the leg piece 15. In the preferred embodimentof the invention illustrated, in order to implement fabrication, it ispreferred that this shaper plate 16 be made up to extend over slightlymore than half the cross-sectional area of the upper end of upper leg15. Shaper plate 16 is of a dimension such that it contains at least amajor axis of the desired ellipse.

As best seen in FIG. 2, it is preferred that this shaper plate 16 bemade up of a central portion 17 notched at 18 and 19 on opposite edgesthereof. Within notches 18 and 19 hinge plates 26 and 21 respectivelyare secured at a spaced distance such that bracket hinge plate 12 mayextend therebetween, as viewed in PEG. 1. End piece 22 is thereaftersecured to center piece 17 to form spacer or shaper plate 16. It will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that by virtue of the space leftbetween the side walls of the tube forming leg 15, and the spacer orshaper plate 16 a hand may be inserted beneath the assembled spacer orshaper plate 16 (to the right as viewed in FIG. 2) to implementassembly.

The lower end of upper leg 15 is similarly contoured to provide anelliptical configuration by the utilization of spacer plate halves 25and 26, as best seen in FIG. 3. A downwardly extending hinge plate 27and 28 respectively is secured to each of the spacer halves Z and 26within a notch formed within the spacer plate halves 25 and 26. Theelliptical contour provided by the lower spacer plate halves 25 and 25is such that the length of the minor axis of the ellipse formed at thelower end of upper leg is less than the minor axis of the ellipse formedat the upper end of leg member 15, as a result of which the upper end ofthe leg member 15 appears thicker than the lower end.

Lower leg member 30 is similarly formed of an elongate length ofcylindrical tubing formed of sheet material similar to that of upper legportion 15 and is provided with a desired tapered configuration by theutilization of a spacer member formed by plate 31 contouring the upperend of the leg member 30 into an elliptical configuration having a minoraxis smaller than the minor axis in the elliptical configuration of thelower portion of leg member 30, whereby the lower part of the legappears thinner.

The vertically extending plate member 31, shaped as best seen in FIG. 3,is formed of sheet stock of desired rigidity, and dimensioned with abreadth equal to the dimension of the desired major axis of the ellipseto be formed at the top of the lower leg portion 3d. The upper end ofplate 31 is preferably rounded and pivoted between pivot brackets 27 and28 secured respectively to spacer halves and 26, as seen in FIG. 3.

The lower end of lower leg 311} is maintained in its desired ellipticalcontour by the utilization of footpiece 4b which has an upwardlyextending plate 41 about which a cult 42 is extended. Cuff 42 is formedof tubular chipboard and is adapted for telescopic insertion within theleg portion 30. The breadth of plate 41 is equal to the length of thedesired major axis of the lower end of leg portion which as abovedescribed will be understood to be less than the length of the majoraxis of the upper end of leg portion 30 to provide the desired taper.

Footpiece as illustrated is contoured to approximate an elevational viewof the human foot, and desired thickness is obtained by employing toppart 15 formed of cylindrical tubing cut on a plan askew to itslongitudinal axis and provided with a sole In the event that additionaltapering is required to obtain desired contouring from all angles ofview the cylindrical stock tubing employed in the fabrication of theupper leg 15 and lower leg 30 may be cut to remove a V-shaped segment,the apex of which extends longitudinally with respect to the tube, andthe base of the segment lying along the end of the tube which it isdesired to reduce in size. Thereafter the portions of the tube fromwhich the segment has been removed are joined to form a conical segment.In lieu of the segment removal, conical tubing may be employed.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4, the inventiveconcept is shown as utilized in the formation of a mannequin providedwith lower torso contouring such as might be found desirable in thedisplay of ladies slacks.

Mannequin 50 is formed with a waist piece 51 of rigid relatively softsheet material such as chipboard, wood, of the like material in which apin or tack may be manually inserted, and two spaced bracket pieces 52and 52 are extended downwardly from the waist piece 51. Hin e plates 53and 54 are secured respectively to bracket plates 52 and 52 A hipportion of the mannequin is formed by utilizing tubing of the typeheretofore described.

Hip portion 55, as best seen in FIG. 5, is formed by cutting tubes 56and 57 on a bias, i.e. the ends are cut off at an angle other than rightwith respect to the longitudinal axis. Thereafter a segment 58 isremoved from each tube along a plane of proposed juncture of the tubes.The tubes 56 and 57 are secured to an end plate 59 which isgeometrically similar to waist piece 51, and rear contouring tubesegment 58 is inverted after removal from the tubes 56 and 57 andsecured between them, as viewed in FIG. 4.

Thereafter upper leg segments 6% and 6-1 are secured respectively to thelower ends of hip forming tubes 56 and 57. A spacer is inserted withinthe upper end of leg portions 69 and 6 1 to contour the upper portion ofthe leg in a substantially elliptical shape having a minor axis smallerthan the minor axis of the lower ends of leg portions to provide athinner appearance at the lower end. As above noted in connection withthe FIG. 1-3 embodiment, desired tapering may be effected by utilizing acone shaped tube, or splitting the cylindrical tube and removing aV-shaped segment to provide additional taper in all planes.

Lower leg members, and the foot pieces on the FIG. 4 embodiment are madelike lower leg members 30; and foot pieces 40 described in connectionwith the FIG. 1-3 embodiment, as seen in the drawings.

In the FIG. 6 embodiment of the invention, the mannequin 71 is formedwithout articulated joints. The components of the mannequin inaccordance with the teachings of this invention are formed of sheetmaterial such as pasteboard, chipboard, or the like.

Waist piece 71, like waist pieces 51 and 11, is oval shaped to simulatethe human waist. Brackets 72 and 73 are secured to the waist piece 71and an end plate 74 is arranged at the lower end of the brackets.

Secured to the end plate 74 are upper leg pieces 75 and 76 formed oftubular lengths of sheet material. Tapering effects are provided eitherby forming said tubular lengths of a conical material and/ or byutilizing spacers to form the upper end with an ellipse of minor axisgreater than the minor axis of the lower end, as above described.

Lower leg pieces 77 and 78 are formed in the manner of upper leg pieces75 and 76 and secured thereto, and foot pieces like foot piece 45 areinserted in the bottom of lower leg pieces 77 and 78 as shown.

Operation In use, the aforedescribed mannequins are fabricated ofconventional sheet material utilizing conventional sheet formingtechniques of cutting, pasting, stapling, nailing, and the like.

Desired three dimensional elfects and tapering are attained by utilizingtubular lengths equal or proportional to the length of the limbsrepresented and contouring the ends of the tubular lengths into anellipse with the desired thicker part of the anatomy having a minor axislarger than the minor axis of an ellipse at an end of the limb which itis desired to make thinner.

The mannequins made in accordance with the teachings of the inventionare dressed in trousers or the like by removing the foot pieces from thelower leg members, drawing the trousers onto the mannequin andrepositioning the foot pieces. Where desired shoes may be applied to thefoot pieces, the to part 45 serving to maintain the shoe in position.

It is thus seen that a simple mannequin structure has been provided,subject to inexpensive fabrication of sheet stock, to provide desiredcontours and articulation.

The above disclosure has been given by way of illustration andelucidation and not by way of limitation, and it is desired to protectall embodiments of the herein disclosed inventive concept within thescope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A display mannequin comprising a waist piece formed of a flat pieceof sheet stock; two leg support brackets extending from a normally lowersurface of said waist piece; a leg secured to each support bracket, saidleg formed of hollow tubing, with the upper part of the tubing securedto said bracket, a hip portion being arranged between said waist pieceand said leg, in which said hip portion comprises: a tubular member; anda segment cut from said tubular member and secured thereto to extendtherefrom.

2. A method of forming a display mannequin of hollow stock tubing, saidmethod comprising the steps of: cutting the tubing to a lengthproportional to the length of the desired part of the anatomy to berepresented by the portion of the mannequin formed; bending an end ofthe cut length of tubing into a contour having a substantiallyelliptical cross-section; bending the opposite end of the cut length oftubing into a contour having a substantially elliptical contour, withthe end of the tubing corresponding to a thicker part of the anatomyhaving a minor axis larger than the minor axis of the end of the tubingrepresenting a thinner part of the anatomy.

3. A method as in claim 2 in which said step of bending an end of thetubing into a substantially elliptical contour is performed by insertinga member into the end of the tubing, said member dimensioned to extendacross the end of the tube between the sidewalls thereof a distanceequal to the desired length of the major axis of the substantiallyelliptical contour.

4. A display mannequin comprising a waist piece formed of a plane pieceof sheet stock; two spaced leg support brackets extending from anormally lower surface of said waist piece; an upper leg piece securedto each of said brackets, said upper leg piece formed of hollow tubingwith the upper part of the tubing having an elliptical contour, and thelower part of the tubing having an elliptical contour, the minor axis ofthe lower part of the tubing being smaller than the minor axis of theupper part of the tubing; a lower leg piece secured to said upper legpiece, said lower leg piece formed of hollow tubing having an upper endwith an elliptical contour and a lower end with an elliptical contourhaving .a minor axis less than the minor axis of the upper end, in whicha hip portion is arranged between said upper leg piece and said waistpiece, said hip portion comprising a pair of tubes having their endslying in a plane at an angle other than right with respect to the axisof the tubes, said tubes having a segment cut therefrom along an edge ofthe tube along which they are to be joined.

5'. A display mannequin as in claim 4 in which one of the segments cutfrom said tubes is secured to said tubes to extend between them whenjoined to provide desired fulness of contour.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 982,096 1/1911 Schoenhut 22368 X1,771,845 7/1930 Gemeiner 223- X 1,782,576 11/1930 Macgregor 46l62 X2,202,677 5/1940 Usinskis 46--126 2,238,455 4/ 1941 Steinhilber 461262,468,997 5/1949 Osgood 46126 3,113,707 12/1963 Wiston 223-72 JORDANFRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. GEORGE V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner.

1. A DISPLAY MANNEQUIN COMPRISING A WAIST PIECE FORMED OF A FLAT PIECEOF SHEET STOCK; TWO LEG SUPPORT BRACKETS EXTENDING FROM A NORMALLY LOWERSURFACE OF SAID WAIST PIECE; A LEG SECURED TO EACH SUPPORT BRACKET, SAIDLEG FORMED OF HOLLOW TUBING, WITH THE UPPER PART OF THE TUBING SECUREDTO SAID BRACKET, A HIP PORTION BEING ARRANGED BETWEEN SAID WAIST PIECEAND SAID LEG, IN WHICH SAID HIP PORTION COMPRISES: A TUBULAR MEMBER; ANDA SEGMENT CUR FROM SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND SECURED THERETO TO EXTENDTHEREFROM.